South Sudan MPs demand removal of E. Equatoria governor

By Isaac Vuni

August 5, 2007 (JUBA) — A group of Lawmakers from Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA) have, today, demanded for immediate removal of Governor of Eastern Equatoria State, Aloisio Emor Ojetuk, for having misled President Salva Kiir Mayardit on relieving Henry Odwar of his membership in SSLA and also of failing to respect 25% representation of women in his cabinet including un warranted killing of hundreds of innocent people in the state.

Speaking at assembly specialized committee room, a group of women MPs said Governor Ojetuk has failed in his administering of the state, hence prompting the historical people of EES regrouping along their ethnic line to create insecurity in the entire state.

“Since the highly educated sons of Eastern Equatoria state could not reach any dialogue among themselves on good governance, the only option is by replacing Governor Ojutuk with a woman nominee, MP. Bethy Ogwaro”, declared MP Mary Ayat.

“We women want to file our female candidate genuinely so that no man takes us to court as is the case with the current EES speaker’s being challenged in a constitutional court for failing to follow the conduct of Business of the state;”, said MP Ritta John.

The Mps who nominated MP Ogwaro masses are: Aida Eriminio Wande of Western Equatoria state, Josephine Moses Lado of Aweil South, northern Bahr el Ghazal state, , Mary Ayat Ungwre of Aweil Center, northern Bahr el Ghazal state and Ritta John of Civil Society.

MP Bethy Ogwaro, chairperson of women league in SSLA, is a holder of a master degree in Vetnary science, former member of SPLM chapter in Londan and publisher of SPLM Update in London for Diasporas community and currently a student of PhD. She was not available for comment.

With nomination of Ogwar, there are so far three line-up candidates who are nominated by communities and have shown interest in Governorship position and top on the list is Paul Lodiong, former state finance minister nominated by cross section of EES communities, and MP George Kinga of Kapoeta County nominated by SSLA same like MP Bethy Ogwaro of Magwi County.

According to the chairman of Eastern Equatoria parliamentarians Caucus in SSLA, MP Fr. George Kinga, who is also a presidential advisor on religious affairs, the women seat belongs to Greater Kapoeta and the female candidate have to come from either Kapoeta north, south or east.

Fr. Kinga, on behalf of SPLM caucus of EES in SSLA appealed President Salva Kiir to revoke relief of Henry Odwar from SSLA. He sincerely regretted any inconveniences created to the President for decreeing relief of Mr. Henry Odwar because of deliberate misleading recommendation of governor Ojetuk.

The twenty-five percent of five MPs from Greater Torit comprised of; Torit, Magwi, Ikwoto and Lopa counties translate into one seat for woman already filled by MP Bethy Ogwaro meanwhile the seven MPs from Greater Kapoeta ration translate into two seats for women but only one seat is occupied by MP Lucy Iyaya of Budi County.

Therefore, the second women seat have to come from the three counties of Kapoeta north, south or East and the lawmakers said they have already identified a potential female candidates waiting to be consulted for nomination.

On other hand, a source who attended Eastern Equatoria parliamentarian Caucus in SSLA meeting with Governor Ojetuk, last night also demanded for removal of Ojetuk from Governorship of the state for failing to unite the people of Eastern Equatoria state during the last two years.

Henry Odwar, representative of Ikwoto County was relieved on recommendation of governor of Eastern Equatoria State; Aloisio Emor Ojetuk to president Kiir on June 26 this year, alleging that communities elect MP was wrongly occupying a seat designated for women of greater Torit.

In another development, Mrs. Joyce Kwaje has yesterday finally defected from SUAP to SPLM party and more defectors are expected both from GoSS and state levels and top on lists are the chairman of public account committee of SSLA including state minister of education of Eastern Equatoria who are repeatedly accused by their mother party-USAP for not reporting to the party on whose tickets they are enjoying parliamentary seats.

Meanwhile the NCP celebration day yesterday was poorly attended at Juba football stadium as it was reduced to school children participation particularly northern partner schools in Juba town.

(ST)